Device for cleaning a plurality of closely adjacent thin plates or similar objects



Oct. 25, 1955 w. R. WRIGHT 2,721,349

DEVICE FOR CLEANING A PLURALITY 0F CLOSELY ADJACENT THIN PLATES 0RSIMILAR OBJECTS Filed Nov. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. WRIGHTZKAMTZ/W-Qg ATT United States Patent DEVICE FOR CLEANmG A PLURALITY 0FCLOSELY ADJACENT THIN PLATES OR SIMILAR OBJECTS William R. Wright,Warren, Mass.

Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,719

3 Claims. (Cl. 15--210) It is the general object of the invention toprovide for easy and rapid replenishment of the wiping material as itbecomes worn or soiled.

A further object is to provide a device having convenient storageprovisions for a supply of fresh wiping material. I also provide forincreasing the tension on the cleaning material as it is drawn throughthe device.

To the accomplishment of these general objects, my invention furtherrelates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will behereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. l is a partial side elevation of my improved cleaning device;

Figs. 2 and 2a are partial side elevations similar to Fig. l but showingthe parts in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation, looking in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation, looking in the direction of thearrow 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken along the line 66 inFig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but embodying the use of tubularcleaning material.

Referring to the drawings, my improved cleaning device comprises ahandle portion 10 having a storage drum 12 secured to its lower end andadapted to contain a roll of suitable cleaning material M. The drum 12may be provided with a removable cover, not shown.

At the upper end of the handle, a plurality of hook members 15 aresecured in spaced parallel relation, and each hook member is provided onits inner or concave edge with a cutting portion 15a as best shown inFigs. 2 and 6.

A clamping lever is pivoted at 21 to the upper end of the handle portion10 and comprises a curved or segmental clamping portion 22 and an endportion 23 (Fig. 4) having teeth or serrations 24 on its lower edge. Theclamping lever 20 is of substantially U-shaped section and a slot oropening 27 (Fig. 3) is provided in its outer surface.

The handle portion 10 is preferably U-shaped in cross section, as shownin Fig. 5, and with the longitudinal edge shown uppermost in Fig. 2 opento facilitate insertion and threading of the cleaning material M. Thedrum 12 is provided with a slot or opening 12a through which thecleaning material M may be drawn out for threading into the handleportion 10.

The preferred cleaning material, as shown in Fig. 6, comprises arelatively narrow strip of fabric 30 and a second and wider strip offabric 31 which is applied to the fabric 30 in a series of parallelpleats or folds which are stitched to the fabric 30 in a series ofparallel lines as indicated at 30.

This material M is threaded through the handle portion 10 to the openupper end thereof, where it is drawn out and forced over the open endsof the curved hook members 15. The advance end of the material is thendrawn off over the base of the hooks, and is simultaneously slittedlongitudinally by the cutting edges 15a. The slitted material is thenpassed down through and under the clamping lever 20, and with the lowerend of the material M projecting therefrom as indicated in Fig. 1. Thecleaning device is then ready for its intended use which is carried outby inserting the convex or outer edges of the hook members 15 togetherwith their enclosing pleats between the peripheral portions of aplurality of closely adjacent thin discs such as are commonly used inautomatic telephone apparatus.

After the cleaning device has been used until the cleaning material hasbecome worn or soiled, the clamping lever 20 may be swung to the openposition indicated in Fig. 2, and the end portion of the cleaningmaterial may then be drawn firmly around the serrated end 23 of theclamping lever 20. When held in that position, as indicated in Fig. 2a,the material M will be firmly engaged by the teeth 24. If the clampinglever 20 is then swung downward to the closed position indicated in Fig.1, the soiled cleaning material will be drawn downward past the cuttingedges 15a, and the slitting operation will be facilitated by thesubstantial leverage thus applied.

The supply of cleaning material is thus quickly and easily replenishedon the hook members 15, and the cleaning device is ready for furtheruse. When the clamping lever 20 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, theclamping portion 22 thereof is effective to prevent displacement of thecleaning material and holds the pleated material M snugly against theconcave or inner edges of the hook members 15.

If the device is to be used for lubricating as well as cleaning, thematerial M may be moistened with a suitable lubricant.

For certain purposes, it may be desirable to use cleaning material M(Fig. 7) in the form of separate tubular strips, instead of materialhaving the unitary and pleated construction shown in Fig. 6.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

l. A cleaning device for storing and operatively presenting stripcleaning material having a plurality of tubular longitudinal pleatswhich comprises a handle, a storage device for said cleaning materialmounted at one end of said handle, and a plurality of identical parallelspaced and curved supporting hook members each attached by one endportion to the second end of said handle, and the hooked end portions ofsaid members projecting freely from said handle and effective to receivepleats of said strip of cleaning material, said handle having a passagetherethrough for transit of said cleaning material to the free outerends of the hook portions of said hook members, each supporting hookmember having a cutting edge portion on its concave inner face adjacentthe end thereof which is attached to said handle, and said cutting edgeportions severing the strip of cleaning material as said material isdrawn through said device and toward said handle.

2. The combination in a cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, inwhich a clamping lever having a curved end portion is provided, whichclamping lever is mounted on said handle for movement of its curved endportion to- Ward and away from the concave inner edges of said hookmembers to clamp and release said cleaning material.

3. The combination in a cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, inwhich a lever is pivoted to the handle and overlies a portion of thecleaning material'which has been 5 severed by said hook members, and inwhich said lever has a serrated holding edge at its free end and iseffective to draw a portion of said severed strip material off of thebase of said hook members as the free end of said lever is swung towardsaid handle and with a portion of said 10 severed strip material pressedagainst said serrated edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

